Republic of the Marshall Islands Ministry of Education ANNUAL REPORT FISCAL YEAR 2009 “Katakin Ro Nejid, Vcgaj Jelsvxkjen” MINISTRY OF EDUCATION SHARED MISSION STATEMENT Our students are the key to a peaceful and productive Marshall Islands. i ii MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION The Ministry of Education has evolved from its modest and unassuming beginnings into an influential and positive entity of Marshallese society. It endeavors to educate our children by offering instruction in a wide variety of subjects. Having entered the age of information technology, it is vital that the Ministry keep abreast of these fast-paced developments. Indeed, the technology is now in place on the outer islands to afford computer labs and internet access. This has been made possible by utilizing solar power. A major accomplishment during the year was the accreditation of Marshall Islands High School. This process was a very long, rewarding effort on the part of the school as a whole and the Ministry. MIHS became the first public school in the Republic to achieve this feat and is encouraged to maintain the example they have demonstrated. The school has now set the standard for other schools to follow. As a part of the whole educational process our children will have been exposed to rapid social changes. They will have developed a keen sense of their own Marshallese culture. They will recognize what is valuable to retain and what needs to be modified and they will have developed a respectful attitude towards people from other societies and cultures. Additionally our children will have been exposed to the dynamics of life in coral reefs and for the need to protect this highly fragile environment. Here, then on these pages, you will find details of the Ministry’s efforts and activities for Fiscal Year 2009. While there is always a need for improvement, the Ministry has made great progress and looks forward to a future where high quality education is accessible to all Marshallese. With this, I present to you the Ministry of Education’s Report for Fiscal Year 2009. Hon. Nidel Lorak Minister of Education iii iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BY THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION Clear, well-executed quality education remains the most significant objective and challenge of the Ministry of Education. Of primary concern to educators of the Ministry is literacy, both in Marshallese and English. Once literacy has been achieved, quality education becomes highly feasible. We are then able to ask these questions: Are our students learning? and How do we know? The main elements to learning successfully are good instruction and strong leadership. As a result, the MOE is building its human resources to meet the demands of the student population. A foundation needs to be established by placing our best teachers in the lower grades. It has become apparent that many of the problems we face in our educational system originate from our students’ lack of basic skills. Through professional development, good principals, and parental involvement the foundation for educational success has been set and aggressively pursued. The MOE has written its objectives, goals, outcomes, and outputs through Performance-Based Budgeting allowing for more accurate measurement of educational activities. In addition, the Ministry continuously reviews its curriculum in an effort to align textbooks and materials with grade level instruction. Training has been multifaceted including formal degree programs, on-line courses, textbook company orientation/presentations and curriculum specialists offering courses and workshops. In conclusion, we see that education is a partnership. This partnership includes, students, teachers, parents and staff. It extends to all students in public schools, private schools, institutions of higher education, on and off island donors, consultants, local communities, and stakeholders. Thank you, especially to the landowners and traditional leaders for your support in helping to educate the children of the RMI. M. Biram Stege Secretary of Education v vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Ministry of Education’s Shared Mission Statement ........................................................ i Message from the Minister of Education ....................................................................... iii Executive Summary by the Secretary of Education ....................................................... v Table of Contents .............................................................................................................. vi List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... ix List of Figures ................................................................................................................... ix List of Photographs ........................................................................................................... x Abbreviations and Acronyms ......................................................................................... xii DIVISIONS/DEPARTMENTS/AGENCIES Division of Administration, Finance, and Human Resources .................................... 1 Overview ...................................................................................................................... 1 Organizational Chart .................................................................................................... 1 Personnel Office ........................................................................................................... 2 Budget Office/Procurement and Supply Office ........................................................... 4 Information and Analysis ..................................................................................... 7 General Funds ..................................................................................................... 10 Compact Sector Grant and Ebeye Special Needs .......................................... 10-11 Supplemental Educational Grant ........................................................................ 11 Federal Funds ..................................................................................................... 12 Professional Development Office .............................................................................. 13 Division of Policy and Planning .................................................................................. 17 Overview .................................................................................................................... 17 Policy Development ................................................................................................... 17 MOE Teacher Certification Act 2007 ................................................................ 17 Data Driven Plans to Implement Effective School Monitoring Procedures ...... 18 MOE Rules and Regulations .............................................................................. 18 Parents as Teachers ............................................................................................ 20 ICT Symposium 2009 ........................................................................................ 21 Micronesian Development Goals ....................................................................... 22 Novice Weaving ................................................................................................. 22 Management Information System Office ................................................................... 23 Testing Office ............................................................................................................ 25 MISAT ................................................................................................................ 26 Information Technology Office ................................................................................. 33 PRIDE Program ......................................................................................................... 35 Division of Early Childhood and Elementary Education ......................................... 39 Overview .................................................................................................................... 39 vii TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) Programs and Development Efforts ............................................................................... 39 Special Education Program ............................................................................................ 42 Development and Production of Instructional Materials ................................................ 45 Health Education ............................................................................................................ 47 Division of Secondary and Vocational Education ......................................................... 53 Overview ........................................................................................................................ 53 Programs and Developments Efforts .............................................................................. 53 Progress Made by Secondary School ............................................................................. 58 Marshall Islands High School .................................................................................... 58 Jaluit High School ...................................................................................................... 59 Northern Island High School .....................................................................................